MLL New York Lizards

Lizards Win Infront of 5,221 Fans

July 13, 2009 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New York Lizards News Release


In front of a crowd of 5,221 fans, the Long Island Lizards defeated the Boston Cannons, for the third time this season, on July 9th at Hofstra University's Shuart stadium, 11-10. Lizards' goalie Brian Dougherty earned the Bud Light Game MVP award after making 15 saves, including the final save of the game with six seconds left on the clock. The Lizards were led offensively by Matt Danowski, Tim Goettelmann, and Stephen Berger who all had three points each in the victory.

In his first game of the year, Joe Mascaretti won the opening faceoff which resulted in a goal by Keith Cromwell, assisted by Berger, just 38 seconds into the game. After quick ball movement, Goettelmann scored again for the Lizards followed by a goal from Glenn Adams, his first of the year, to make the score 3-0. The Cannons finally got on the board with a goal from John Christmas with 4:11 left in the quarter. Soon after their first goal, Matt Casey scored again for Boston, making the score 3-2. A penalty was called on Boston defender Jack Reid resulting in a power play goal for the Lizards. Berger received a sharp pass from Danowski on top of the crease and put it behind Cannon's goalie Mike Levin, to end the first with a 4-2 lead.

The second quarter was evenly matched as both teams only scored two goals apiece. With only five seconds left on the shot clock, Danowski managed to get a tough angle shot off and score, to put the Lizards ahead by three. Stephen Peyser, who has registered a point in every game played this season, scored with 8:18 left in the quarter to make the score 6-2. The Cannons retaliated with a goal from their leading scorer, Paul Rabil. With five seconds left on the clock the Cannons would score once again sending the teams into the locker room with the Lizards leading by two.

Boston opened up the second half with two goals, including a 2-point goal from Rabil, to give the Cannons their first and only lead of the night. However, their lead would not last long as Goettelmann scored his second goal of the night to tie the game at seven. Danowski, the Lizards point leader, scored again to bring the Lizards ahead by one. Matt Alrich would bring some life back to the Cannons scoring a goal off a pass from Christmas with 9:52 left in the quarter. Reid received another penalty which resulted in another power play goal for the Lizards, this time by Peyser off a pass from Berger. Ricky Pages, who is usually on the defensive side of the game, carried the ball up the field and passed it to recently acquired midfielder John Glynn. Glynn then passed the ball right back to Pages who finished the quarter off with his first career goal.

Leading 10-8 at the start of the final quarter, Goettelmann scored his third goal of the night to increase the Lizards lead. After seven minutes of scoreless play, Justin Smith scored for the Cannons with one second left on the shot clock. The Lizards and the Cannons traded possessions during the final minutes of the game and with 12 seconds left the Rabil scored his third goal of the night to make the score 11-10. With hopes of going into overtime, the Cannons won the final faceoff and got the ball to Kyle Sweeney on a breakaway. Sweeney fired a shot but Dougherty made a point blank save and crushed any hopes of a Cannon comeback.

The Lizards, now 5-2 on the season, will host the Toronto Nationals next weekend on Saturday July 18th at 8 p.m. at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium.

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